Higher education in Kenya’s public universities is coming to a standstill as lecturers under the umbrella of The University Academic Staff Union (UASU) agitate for an improved salary structure. The strike which has drawn support from administrative and support staff represented by the Universities Non-Teaching Staff Union (Untasu) and the Kenya Union of Domestic Hotels Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers Union (KUDHEIHA) has seen the closure of several universities.

With the high cost of living in the country, Kenyan lecturers, like other workers, need emoluments that match the current inflationary trends. The ongoing trend that sees politically connected individuals ascend the economic ladder at the expense of the toiling majority is worrying. Demotivating custodians of the country's minds is a prescription to disaster. It is in this light that the striking dons ought to be given an ear.

On the other hand, going by the Times Higher Education World Universities rankings last year that probed the volume of research undertaken by universities; how the institutions were relevant to the job market; ratio of the number of students versus academic staff in universities; diversity on campus and the impact of research conducted in Africa’s universities, these institutions ought to rethink the product they are giving to the market. In the rankings, the continent fared dismally compared to other continents. The only African universities that appeared in the top 200 slots globally were the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and The University of Alexandria in Egypt.

Institutions of higher learning that invest little in research;  are dependent on donors to drive their agenda; don’t offer courses tailored to specific needs of respective countries; and don’t factor the productivity aspect in their curriculums are preoccupying themselves with non essentials and bottling up the much needed potential in African minds. It will be prudent if Kenya’s lecturers agitated for productivity with the same energy they have displayed. This will have a multiplier effect and increase their pie.